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The Carol Burnett Show
CBS, 1967-79
Burnett's show, which can still be seen on Nick at Nite, was a standout among the bevy of variety shows
that ran during the same era. Keeping with a traditional variety show format - an intro and closing by
Burnett, songs and skits, it was a perfect forum for Burnett's hilarity and genius. Characters remain
memorable - enough so that one popular segment became the series "Mama's Family" - when Burnett's
series finally went off the air at the tail end of the disco era. |
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Happy Days
ABC, 1974-84
 A longing for the easy life of the '50s led to the success of this sitcom, which focused on Ritchie Cunningham (Ron Howard), his family, and friends, including the too-cool Fonzie (Henry Winkler). Viewers watched Ritchie go through high school, then eventually leave to college, after which the series shifted its focus to his family and Fonzie. |
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Mission: Impossible
CBS, 1966-73
 The series about a group of highly special agents had two runs (the second in the '80s), but both feature Peter Graves as Jim Phelps, who served as head of the team. Their mission? To set the stage for what would be the spy genre for years to come. This great series also spawned a Hollywood blockbuster starring Tom Cruise as Jim Phelps. This summary will self-destruct in five seconds! |
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The Cosby Show
NBC, 1984-92
 A working mother who's able to successfully run a household and be a
supportive mother? Yup. Cosby,
who prior to the NBC sitcom had been best known for his role in "I Spy,"
and for his family-flavored
standup, exec produced and starred in this remarkable, funny,
message-without-being-moralistic series
about a working lawyer, her doctor husband and their five impressionable
children. |
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The Simpsons
FOX, 1990-Present
 Animation in primetime? If it's as well written as Matt Groening's "The
Simpsons," first introduced as a
series of shorts on yet another excellent Fox series, "The Tracey Ullman
Show," it can work. And it has -
the day-to-day trials and tribulations of the Simpson family of
Springfield Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and
pacifier-sucking Maggie - has entertained audiences for nearly a decade
(!). |
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The Brady Bunch
ABC, 1969-74
Here is the story... "The Brady Bunch" will always stand as a testament to life in the late 60s, when kids were groovy and parents had afros. A family of eight, the Brady kids were always getting into some trouble, which usually led to father Mike Brady (Robert Reed) giving out some sage advice to finish an episode. The show was made into two films in the 1990s. |
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The Avengers
CBS, 1966-69
Slick British agents Jonathan Steed (Patrick Macnee) and Emma Peel (Diana Rigg) were an odd pair, taking on missions to stop diabolical geniuses from taking over the world. He, suave and proper. Her, sexy and playful. The show enjoyed various incarnations, and was recently made into a feature film. |
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ER
NBC, 1994-Present
What makes "ER," essentially a hospital drama (which has been done many
times before) work? Great
writing, great acting - and risks. What series can introduce a
significant character by having
her (a nurse, no less) attempt suicide in the series opener? "ER" did it
- and did it well - as it has
continued to do so. |
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Seinfeld
NBC, 1990-98
 Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer have not only added to the lexicon of
our generation, but provided
literally hours and hours of water-cooler talk. Although it was
essentially about "nothing" - the daily
lives and mishaps of four friends, it was absolutely unique in its
execution. No other show can boast
introducing phrases laden with mass meaning. |
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The X-Files
FOX, 1993-Present
 Slow to start, but building to an unforeseen crescendo, "X-Files," which
follows the adventures of agents
Scully and Mulder - who investigate the abnormal, paranormal and the
like -- is the barometer for all sci-
fi series to come. Weird and creative, elegant end engaging, few series
can boast such a wide variety
episodic stories. |
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Tonight In Primetime
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